LEGO has a wide array of beautifully painted parts that have wide appeal and add detail to models, such as the 1x2 M:tron control panel. LEGO also produced parts that are hamstrung by having a giant logo of a long-discontinued faction, such as the insectoids. Other painted parts are worn out. These parts need to be chopped. This chop shop MOC will show choppers the best ways to remove paint from their parts.

About this creation

Here are some parts that are good candidates for paint removal. The insectoids quarter dome is only usable for insectoids builds. The shirt and aquanauts tile are worn out.

The first method is the abrasive method. Use white rouge polishing compound to wear away at the paint. If you use anything with a coarser grit you will mar the plastic. Use soap and water to wash the rouge residue off.

It gives a good finish with only minimal clouding.
+removes paint quickly
-requires skill at abrading to use.
-might round off corners if used sloppily.

The second is the chemical method. Use sculpey original. knead some sculpey until it is warm and pliable. Apply to painted part. Keep the part warm. Wait several hours

After a few hours wait time, peel away the sculpey. The top layer of paint will peel away with it. The process is called plasticization(sp?). The chemical that keeps the sculpey soft dissolves the paint. Some or all of the paint that is left on your part will be plasticized as well.

Use goo-gone and a piece of a brown paper grocery bag or a rubber eraser to rub away the plasticized paint that is left on your model. knead up the sculpey and re-apply it to take off another player of paint. In my experience, black comes off easily, while orange is much more difficult.